Its flagship event is an annual competition in which students in grades 6-12 develop presentations about topics in history that interest them.

[2] It started as a local program in Cleveland, Ohio, headed by Dr. David Van Tassel, a history professor at Case Western Reserve University.

They construct entries as an individual or a group in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit board, paper, performance, or website.

[7] State winners then go to Maryland for a final competition, held in June for a monetary award.

She worked to raise grant funds and recruit state historical organizations to join the program.

In 1992 National History Day moved its headquarters from Cleveland to College Park, Maryland in the Washington, D.C., area.

[12] Students, either individually or as a group, can submit a project from one of the following categories: paper, exhibit, performance, documentary, or website.

After reviewing the year's theme, the submission handbook, and choosing a topic, the student(s) should gather primary and secondary sources about their research.

At state level competitions, the top two entries in each category and division are invited to the National Contest, held each June at the University of Maryland, College Park.

[16] In 2011 several researchers from Rockman et al published a study examining the competition's impact on participating students.